India and Myanmar launch the first tri‑service joint HADR exercise “Rahat Mitra”.

India and Myanmar, under this year’s bilateral defence dialogue, took a new step by launching the tri‑service joint HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) exercise named “Rahat Mitra.” The exercise involved the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force together with the Myanmar Army, Navy and Air Force, strengthening coordination between the two countries’ armed forces in disaster management, rescue operations and supply distribution. The main focus of the exercise was a simulated flood‑affected area located on the coastline, where ambulances, helicopters, watercraft and emergency medical units were used to provide rapid relief to the disaster‑affected population.

Through “Rahat Mitra,” both countries established cooperation in line with international standards in disaster‑response planning, information‑communication protocols and supply‑chain management. The exercise made clear that the India‑Myanmar defence partnership is no longer limited to traditional security issues but also encompasses collective responsibility for natural disasters such as climate change, cyclones and floods. In this direction, this exercise is a concrete implementation of the HADR cooperation agreement signed between the two nations in 2023.